Survey Shows Python Use Up 45% Since Google App Engine Debuted

Python use has jumped 45% since Spring 2008, according to the most recent North American Development Survey from Evans Data Corp. Only 13% of developers used Python before Google announced its App Engine platform that same Spring (2008), which at the time supported only Python. Since then, that number increased to 20.3% as of November 11, 2009.

Use of other scripting languages remained relatively constant, with only minor gains or losses in the popularity of languages such as Ruby, PHP, Perl, and Actionscript.

"This [Python] adoption change illustrates the power of Google and the promise of Cloud Computing on which Google's App Engine depends," said Janel Garvin, of Evans Data.